Are forward and backward recall the same? A dual-task study of digit recall

Abstract

There is some debate surrounding the cognitive resources underlying backward digit recall. Some researchers consider it to differ from forward digit recall due to the involvement of executive control, while others suggest that backward recall involves visuospatial resources. Five experiments therefore investigated the role of executive-attentional and visuospatial resources in both forward and backward digit recall. In the first, participants completed visuospatial 0-back and 2-back tasks during the encoding of information to be remembered. The concurrent tasks did not differentially disrupt performance on backward digit recall, relative to forward digit recall. Experiment 2 shifted concurrent load to the recall phase instead and, in this case, revealed a larger effect of both tasks on backward recall, relative to forwards recall, suggesting that backward recall may draw on additional resources during the recall phase and that these resources are visuospatial in nature. Experiments 3 and 4 then further investigated the role of visual processes in forward and backward recall using dynamic visual noise (DVN). In Experiment 3, DVN was presented during encoding of information to be remembered and had no effect upon performance. However, in Experiment 4, it was presented during the recall phase, and the results provided evidence of a role for visual imagery in backward digit recall. These results were replicated in Experiment 5, in which the same list length was used for forward and backward recall tasks. The findings are discussed in terms of both theoretical and practical implications.

The role of overt language production in the Hebb repetition effect

“…Such a procedure gives more reliable estimates of response times, since otherwise most of the data would emanate from learned Hebb lists. Moreover, the analysis was restricted to Output Positions 3 to 7, since it has been suggested that the first output items during backward recall could be recalled straight from memory, since they were heard most recently (see Anders & Lillyquist, 1971;St Clair-Thompson & Allen, 2013). As is illustrated in Fig.…”

“…More precisely, during a backward recall, the first one or two response items could be recalled without any forward scans, since those items were presented most recently (see also Anders & Lillyquist, 1971;St Clair-Thompson & Allen, 2013). This would translate into short response times for the first one or two output items.…”

The Cognitive Estimation Task is nonunitary: Evidence for multiple magnitude representation mechanisms among normative and ADHD college students

“…i) Please note that the central executive component is involved during the manipulation of information; there is a current debate on whether reporting digits backward is considered to be a manipulation of information and thus tests the central executive, or whether it tests only the phonological loop and the load on the visuospatial process (St Clair- Thompson & Allen, 2013).…”

Estudo psicofísico da atenção visual e avaliação cognitiva em adolescentes com TDAH

“…Acredita-se que as pontuações maiores dos participantes em DOI podem indicar motivação elevada para atividades intelectuais, melhor controle e flexibilidade mental ou bom nível de tolerância a situações de tensão e sobrecarga (Glasser & Zimmerman, 1977 (Baddeley, 2012;Guardiola, 2015;Kaufman, 1994;St Clair-Thompson & Allen, 2013). …”

“…O subteste pode ser desmembrado para avaliar as habilidades separadamente em dígitos ordem direta -DOD e dígitos ordem indireta -DOI (St Clair- Thompson & Allen, 2013). A tarefa DOD relaciona-se à capacidade de manter a informação na alça fonológica e é fortemente associada com o desenvolvimento da linguagem e memória imediata (Baddeley, 2012;Baddeley & Hitch, 1974;Guardiola, 2015;St Clair-Thompson & Allen, 2013). Segundo Kaufman (1994), repetir os dígitos em ordem inversa parece estar associado com a habilidade visuoespacial do hemisfério direito do cérebro.…”